HEPATITIS A

General Information
What is hepatitis?
“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a
vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and
fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged,
its function can be affected.
Hepatitis is most often caused by a virus. In the United
States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Heavy alcohol
use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical
conditions can also cause hepatitis.
How common is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A still occurs in the United States, although not
as frequently as it once did. Over the last several decades,
there has been more than a 90% decrease in Hepatitis A
cases. New cases are now estimated to be around 3,000
each year. Many experts believe this decline is a result of
the vaccination of children and people at risk for
Hepatitis A. Many of the new cases, however, are from
American travelers who got infected while traveling to
parts of the world where Hepatitis A is common.

What is Hepatitis A? Hepatitis A can be

prevented with a safe
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused and effective vaccine.
by the Hepatitis A virus. It can range in severity from a
mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting
several months.
How is Hepatitis A spread?
Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal
Who is at risk? matter—even in microscopic amounts—from contact
with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by feces or
stool from an infected person.
Although anyone can get Hepatitis A, some people Hepatitis A can be spread when:
are at greater risk, such as those who:
• An infected person does not wash his/her hands
properly after going to the bathroom and then
• Travel to or live in • Use recreational drugs,
touches objects or food
countries where whether injected or not
Hepatitis A is common • A caregiver does not properly wash his or her hands
• Have clotting-factor after changing diapers or cleaning up the stool of an
• Have sexual contact disorders, such as infected person
with someone who hemophilia
has Hepatitis A • Someone engages in sexual activities with an
• Are household infected person
• Are men who have members or caregivers
sexual encounters of a person infected Hepatitis A also can be spread through contaminated
with other men with Hepatitis A food or water. Contamination of food can happen at any
point: growing, harvesting, processing, handling, and
even after cooking. This most often occurs in countries
where Hepatitis A is common.

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What are the symptoms of Can Hepatitis A be prevented?
Hepatitis A? Yes. The best way to prevent Hepatitis A is by getting
vaccinated. Experts recommend the vaccine for all
Not everyone has symptoms. If symptoms develop, children, and people with certain risk factors and medical
they usually appear 2 to 6 weeks after infection and conditions. The vaccine is also recommended for
can include: travelers to certain international countries, even if travel
• Fever • Vomiting • Grey-colored occurs for short times or on closed resorts. The Hepatitis A
stools vaccine is safe and effective and given as 2 shots, 6 months
• Fatigue • Abdominal
apart. Both shots are needed for long-term protection.
• Loss of appetite pain • Joint pain
Ask if your health plan will cover travel related vaccines.
• Nausea • Dark urine • Jaundice You can get vaccinated at your doctor’s office, as well as
travel clinics and other locations. Lower cost vaccination
Symptoms are more likely to occur in adults than in may be available at certain pharmacies and your local
children. They usually last less than 2 months, although health department.
some people can be ill for as long as 6 months.

Who should get vaccinated

People can spread against Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A even if
they don’t look or
Vaccination is recommended for certain groups,
feel sick. Many
including:
children and some
• All children at age 1 year
adults have no
symptoms. • Travelers to countries where Hepatitis A is
common
• Family and caregivers of adoptees from
countries where Hepatitis A is common
How is Hepatitis A diagnosed
• Men who have sexual encounters with
and treated? other men
A doctor can determine if a person has Hepatitis A by • Users of recreational drugs, whether injected
discussing his or her symptoms and taking a blood or not
sample. To treat Hepatitis A, doctors usually recommend
rest, adequate nutrition, fluids, and medical monitoring. • People with chronic or long-term liver disease,
Some people will need to be hospitalized. It can take a few including Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
months before people begin to feel better.
• People with clotting-factor disorders

How serious is Hepatitis A?

Most people who get Hepatitis A feel sick for several
months, but they usually recover completely and do not
have lasting liver damage. Sometimes Hepatitis A can
cause liver failure and death, although this is rare and
occurs more commonly in people older than 50 and
people with other liver diseases.
For more information
Talk to your health professional, call your health
department, or visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis or
www.cdc.gov/travel.

Publication No. 21-1072

www.cdc.gov/hepatitis
Updated 2015